The United States Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday, December 30th, that it would advance several measures under the framework of the National Farm Security Action Plan to increase transparency of foreign ownership of agricultural land in the United States and restrict the access of the Chinese Communist Party and other “foreign adversaries” to American farmland.
According to a statement released by the Department of Agriculture on its official website, Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins expressed that a series of measures would be introduced based on the National Farm Security Action Plan of the US Department of Agriculture.
She emphasized that American agricultural research and innovation will stay primarily in the US or with allies and that American farmers and ranchers will be prioritized in all projects. This ensures that federal projects and procurement preferences will not benefit supply chains controlled by foreign adversaries.
Rollins stated, “Strengthening national security begins with understanding who owns our farmland and where federal funding flows. These actions will enhance transparency of foreign ownership of American land and ensure that USDA projects support American farmers and manufacturers, prioritizing domestic supply chains over foreign adversaries, thus closing longstanding oversight and enforcement loopholes.”
According to estimates by the US Department of Agriculture, Chinese-owned agricultural land in the United States was less than 14,000 acres in 2010, increased to over 352,000 acres in 2020, a more than 5300% increase, and reached a peak of 384,000 acres in 2021. It has since declined and is currently less than 280,000 acres. While accounting for less than 1% of all foreign-owned farmland, much of the land is near crucial US military bases, posing espionage and surveillance risks.
The New York Post reported on June 20, 2024, that Chinese companies and individuals own farms near 19 US military bases, some with significant strategic value. For example, Fort Bragg is the headquarters of US Special Operations Command and the 18th Airborne Corps, dubbed the “birthplace of US airborne and special forces”; Camp Pendleton is home to the US Marine Corps’ I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters and the 1st Marine Division. Chinese landowners could set up reconnaissance equipment, install tracking technology, use radar and infrared scanning to monitor US military bases, and even fly drones for surveillance.
Adam Savit, Director of the China division at the American Foreign Policy Institute (AFPI), previously told Voice of America, “If our land is left under the control of the CCP, it can serve as an almost unlimited base for ‘permanent spy balloons’ near facilities where we are neglectful in guarding against.”
The USDA statement mentioned that the primary action under the National Farm Security Action Plan is the issuance of proposed rules under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA), setting up advance notifications, seeking public comments to enhance reporting and filing requirements. This regulation requires foreign investors to report to the USDA when acquiring, transferring, or holding interests in American agricultural land.
The Department of Agriculture will also strengthen data validation and monitoring, and enhance cooperation with the Department of the Treasury on agricultural land matters under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
The statement revealed that entities related to “foreign adversaries” currently control at least 277,000 acres of agricultural land in the United States. Each acre could pose a threat to the food supply chain, serve as a carrier for agricultural terrorism, or be used for surveillance and disruption of military bases and critical infrastructure.
Another updated measure targets the BioPreferred program, supporting domestic manufacturing, increasing the procurement of American bio-based products to stimulate economic development, create jobs, and open new markets for American farmers.
Effective immediately, entities and products from foreign adversary countries will no longer qualify for the BioPreferred program or USDA loan guarantee program. Existing participants must undergo audits, or they will be removed from the program. Funding for the program is scheduled to end by September 30, 2026.
Additionally, the Department of Agriculture is considering implementing stricter rules for foreign ownership of American farmland. Currently, foreign investors collectively own approximately 41 million acres of American agricultural land. When land is near military infrastructure, it poses a national security risk, and current regulations have not kept pace with the growth of foreign investment and concerns for national security.